DISCLAIMER:  I do not own any locations, characters, or names associated with Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy X-2.  I do, however, own this story J

Author's Notes: This chapter is truly the "beginning of the end" for Shuyin and Lenne.  I should be wrapping this story up in another 4 or 5 chapters at the most.  I will then start on "Silver Wings 2: 1000 Confessions". 

Below is chapter 17.  Leave a review and let me know what you think J

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

SILVER WINGS

by akksgurl

Chapter Seventeen:  Soldier Girl

~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~

Lenne still hadn't gotten over her fear of her house.  Everytime she looked at it, the young summoner got cold chills.  After thinking it over for a while, she decided to ask Shuyin if she could live with him.  Surprisingly, he had answered yes without a second thought and even offered to move her things by himself so that she wouldn't have to go inside.

The fact that Nagi had been destroyed only one day after the blitzball stadium had been demolished weighed heavily on Lenne's mind.  It was obvious that Shuyin was overcompensating in an attempt to get her to change her mind about joining the war.  She knew he was terrified of losing her, but she couldn't turn down her duty. 

Shuyin's hands on her shoulders shook her from her thoughts and she tilted her head back to smile at him, "It looked like you were miles away," he said, "Where were you?"

"I was right here, thinking about you."

Shuyin grinned and jumped over the back of the sofa to plop down next to her, "All good thoughts, I hope."

"Absolutely!" Lenne replied.  Shuyin's grin made her sad.  Shuyin wasn't grinning because he was happy.  She knew that grin.  He was grinning because that was the only thing that kept him from crying.  Bruttam was still in the hospital and every doctor agreed with the first. 

Bruttam wasn't going to get better…

Shuyin's main hall phone rang and Lenne jumped up to get it, having to climb over Shuyin's legs and avoid his tickling fingers to do so.  She reached the receiver on the third ring, "Hello?"

"Lenne Fetmar?"

Lenne frowned and walked further down the hall.  She was sure this was the call that she had been expecting and Shuyin had been dreading.  She didn't want Shuyin to overhear, "This is Lenne.  Who is this?"

"Miss Fetmar, this is Colonel Ciroc Connell of the Zanarkand Summoner's Division.  I am taking this opportunity to inform you that all summoners that have not been granted clemency by President Yevon are to report to the command station located at the base of Gagazet tomorrow at 0600 hours."

Lenne leaned against the wall and allowed herself to slowly sink to the ground.  She had been expecting this call, but for it to come so soon was something she hadn't expected.  How was she going to tell Shuyin that she was leaving for war…tomorrow?!  Lenne took a deep breath, "Thank you colonel.  I'll be there."

"Very good," replied Col. Connell, "and also Miss Fetmar, the summoners uniform is required."

Lenne nodded, "Yes, sir." She said as she hung up.  The summoner's uniform was the same dress she used when she performed as a songstress.  She had never thought she'd need it for war so she decided to use it for another purpose.  Now that dress's true purpose was going to be fulfilled.  The question now was whether she'd return alive wearing it.

With trembling hands, Lenne returned the phone to it's cradle and walked back out to Shuyin who was engrossed in a program on the Sphere and didn't notice her return.  She gingerly sat down next to him and was about to speak when he looked at her, "I suppose that was to call you up to the front lines."  Lenne's silent nod caused a frown to crease Shuyin's forehead as he turned the Sphere off and faced her, "You don't have to go." He said.

"I haven't been given clemency by Yu, so I do have to." She replied, "Besides, even if Yu offered me clemency, I'd still go.  It's my duty to fight and defend my country."

------------------.

The news of the call up of summoners was one that Yunalesca couldn't allow.  Followed by Zaon, Yu Yevon's daughter stormed into her father's office a little after noon and pounded her furious fists on the desk, "Why can't you just surrender, father?  Why do more people have to die in this pointless war?!"

Yu looked up from his summoning book and pushed his wire rimmed glasses up his nose brim before replying, "Yunalesca, this war is an inevitable part of Spira's history.  I cannot stop history."

"This isn't history, Daddy!" she cried, "This is the present.  This is real life and you just signed a document that will send myself and all of my fellow summoners to our deaths.  Doesn't that mean anything to you?!"

Yu Yevon chuckled a little and shook his head.  Standing and turning around his desk to approach his daughter, Yu said, "Yuna, I've given you clemency.  I do not want you going to war.  I have much bigger plans for you and Zaon."

"What sort of plans, Yu?" Zaon asked, a bit skeptical.  Lately Zaon had started to mistrust his father-in-law.  There was something that the man was plotting that didn't sit well in Zaon's stomach.  The leader of Zanarkand had apparently told Shuyin his plans but Shuyin wasn't talking.  The blitzer even looked incredibly concerned and worried whenever the subject was addressed. 

Something wasn't right…

Yu shook his head, "I can't tell you that just yet," He replied, "but I promise you that I have a foolproof plan that will end the war.  However, I need both of you to take the next boat out of Zanarkand.  I'd like you to travel to Luca and stay there."

"Luca?" Yunalesca questioned, "Why Luca?  What are you planning?"

"You don't like Luca?" Yu asked, "Well fine.  Travel to Besaid, or Kilika, or Djose even.  I just need you to get away from Zanarkand."

Zaon frowned and pushed a stray strand of blue hair from his eyes, "Why, Yu?  What are you planning?"

Yu Yevon turned and walked toward the window where he gazed out toward Mt. Gagazet, "I have a plan to stop this war." He replied, "but you and Yunalesca must be out of Zanarkand in order to stop the repurcutions."  Yu turned to face them and the look in his eyes was grim.  Zaon felt himself unconsciously shiver, "I want you to leave from here and go immediately out of Zanarkand.  Tell no one where you are going or why."

"Daddy!" Yunalesca cried, "how are we supposed to know when this plan of yours has been accomplished?"

Yu's smile was wicked and the look in his eyes almost insane as he replied, "Believe me, my darling, you'll know."

-------------.

Lenne silently packed a bag in the bedroom while she tried to ignore Shuyin's disapproving look over her shoulder.  She knew that he didn't want her to go, but she had to.  It was her job.  Once her clothing and toiletries was packed, she looked at him, "On a lighter note," she said, "I'm almost finished your song.  I'll sing it for you when I get back."

"If you come back…" Shuyin whispered as he turned his back to her and began to walk back out toward the living room.

Lenne knew that Shuyin was struggling with her leaving.  He'd lost his two best friends and now her.  All he could count on was Zaon.  Lenne hoped with all her soul that Zaon wouldn't disappear on him too.  She wanted to believe that she would come back to him, but she was in serious doubt about that.  Throwing her bag in a corner on the floor, Lenne followed him to the living room where he was sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands.  She walked in front of him and knelt before him to pull his hands away and was surprised to see tears streaking his cheeks.  She let a few tears flow too as she whispered, "I'll come back to you.  I promise."

"That's a dream, Lenne." Shuyin replied, "And dreams can never fool me.  Not that easily."

Lenne frowned, "So you think that I won't come back to you?"

"With my luck lately, I'd say that's inevitable."

Lenne leaned forward and kissed Shuyin passionately, pushing him backward upon the couch and climbing on top of him to shower his cheek and neck with kisses. After a few moments, Lenne stopped and looked at him, "I will come back to you." She replied, "No matter how long it takes, I will come back to you."

Shuyin didn't reply.  Instead he flipped over so that Lenne lay beneath him.  Climbing quickly to his feet, he lifted Lenne easily in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.  If she was destined to never return to him, he'd at least give her a night to remember…

--------------.

"I really don't like this," Yunalesca said to Zaon as the two struggled with the small bag of luggage that Yu Yevon had given them to take with them, "It feels like we're sneaking out like criminals."

Zaon nodded in agreement as he motioned with his hand for his wife to climb the gangplank of the ship bound for Luca.  After talking it over, both Zaon and Yunalesca agreed that Luca was the best place for them to go on such short notice.  Zaon followed his blonde wife as they reached that which would be their room during the voyage, "I understand, Yuna, I really do.  We don't have to go if you don't want to."

"But Daddy told us to.  As much as I hate to admit it, maybe he's onto something."  She sighed and threw the bag in the corner, "Do you think we should call Shuyin or Lenne?"

"We can if you want to."

Yunalesca groaned, "But Daddy told us not to tell anyone.  I suppose that means them too." She looked at Zaon with a frown, "They are going to take our disappearance really hard."

"I know, Yuna." Zaon said, "I know."

---------------.

The morning came too quickly and Shuyin felt Lenne rolling toward the edge of the bed and made a move to grab her waist but missed and she rose to her feet without missing a beat.  He jumped out of the other side and ran over to her, "No." he said, "No."

Lenne frowned as she pulled her dress on, "I have to go, Shuyin.  I'm due at the base in an hour."

"No."  his blue eyes were cast to the floor and Lenne knew she'd remember this moment forever.  His blue eyes focused on something invisible staining the carpet.  He knew that she was acting distant, but she didn't know how else to handle things.  Chances are she wouldn't be returning to him and he'd have to deal with that.  He was fighting the battle of his life; to survive without his friends.  His battle for Lenne was something that he was going to have to fight far from her. 

Tears started to dot the floor as they fell from his crystalline eyes and she reached out to cup his handsome face in her hands, "Save your tears," she whispered, "I'll come back." Kissing him tenderly, Lenne grabbed her bag and quickly ran from him.  She couldn't deal with a long goodbye.  It was better to just leave.  If she stayed for one more minute, she'd begin to question whether she should go or not.  She couldn't deal with that.  She just couldn't.

Catching the hover, Lenne rode silently to the base of Gagazet for the briefing by Col. Connell.  She was surprised to find that most of the summoners had actually shown up.  She had wondered if they would skip town.  She did, however, notice that Yunalesca was missing.  Chances are Yu Yevon's daughter was granted clemency. 

Colonel Ciroc Connell was a handsome man in his early 30s with black hair and startling green eyes.  He was currently wearing a standard issue military uniform consisting of a black jacket with gold buttons and a pair of gray slacks.  He smiled grimly at his troops, "Lords and Ladies, as you all know the people of Zanarkand are counting on your expertise in the Summoning Arts to aid them in the ending of this war.  Just over this mountain are the troops of Bevelle.  Their reliance on machina will be their downfall, everyone.  Zanarkand has always won wars based on the power of their summoners and this war will be no different.  The remains of Nagi will be your battlefield now.  Go and show Bevelle that Zanarkand will not run away!"

The speech didn't do much to captivate the audience but the summoners still began their trudge up Gagazet.  They had all resigned themselves to their fates, just as Lenne had.  The chances of returning home were slim.  Bevelle's reliance on machina wouldn't be their downfall, it would be the cause of their win.

As they peaked the mountain crest shouts from ahead peaked Lenne's interest and she struggled forward until she heard gunshots.  She stopped in her tracks.  They were being ambushed.  The unprepared summoners began to summon various aeons to ward off the attackers but it wasn't working.  Lenne stood back to avoid a Valefor overdrive and slammed into something hard.  Hands were roughly placed on her shoulders and a voice whispered in her ear, "Ahhh…Lady Lenne from Zanarkand."  Lenne twisted her head around to see the man that was holding her hostage.  She felt his gun poking into her back and he said, "You're coming with me, m'lady."

-----------------.

The news of Lenne's capture came just before Shuyin was going to lay down to sleep the next night.  He was so furious that he started throwing things around his apartment as if that would help.  After an hour of his fit, Shuyin collapsed on the floor in utter exhaustion thinking that there had to be a way to save her.  He knew that Yu wouldn't cancel the war so Shuyin was on his own.  He had no idea where Zaon or Yunalesca were.  They hadn't been home since Nagi's destruction. 

Shuyin had no one but Lenne and he'd be damned if he'd lose her too. 

Taking one last look around his house, Shuyin opened his door and started out on foot to Bevelle.  Hovers weren't working and Shuyin knew he'd have to go through the Gagazet Mountains to get to Bevelle as opposed to going right over the crest.  Bevelle troops were coming over the crest.  He'd sneak right under them.

"I'm coming, Lennie.  Just you wait."

-----------.

NOTE: There is now a Final Fantasy X-2 section of fanfiction.net (which would have been nice when I first posted this story).  Therefore, Silver Wings 2 will be posted there.  I will also be moving Silver Wings to that section BEFORE the post of Chapter 18.  In order to facilitate finding both easier, I suggest doing a search either for the name of the story or for my screenname akksgurl.  If you have any questions, please address them in a review and I'll acknowledge them with the next chapter. 

Thanks,

akksgurl